Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-23 Village manger resigns (Hometown News)Dennis Redmond Village manager resigns By Michelle Kaplan staff writer Village manager Dennis Redmond announced his resignation at a Village Council meeting Monday night. Citing health reasons as well as frustration over council management, Mr. Redmond stepped down. "Friday I had an episode when my blood pressure went through the roof and I went blind in my right eye. I resign, I resign," Mr. Redmond said at the meeting. "I spent 32 years in this work and I spent the worst three months of my entire life here. I didn't know the score when I came here," he said. "I didn't know how to play the game. Despite Redmond's comments, , Mayor Don Noel said he is unsure whether the resignation is for real. "He's frustrated," said Mayor Noel, "He's got some definite health issues, I don't consider it to be a resignation at this point. At this point we're in a holding pattern. I'm truly concerned about his health." In addition to his health, Mr. Redmond mentioned a litany of issues increas- ing . his frustation, from run-ins with journalists to charges of sexual harass- ment and hostile work environments in the Pub- lic Safety Department. "As soon as I began the process of reducing expenditures in public safety, which are up 300 percent in four years, I cre- ated an adversary with a newspaper columnist who never once asked me about my motivation nor did she seek the other side. The power of print was enough to protect what she considered her, turf; if I had only appeased her my livelihood would not be in jeopardy," he said. A major issue that Mr. Redmond spoke of was the North Palm Beach Public Safety Department and Chief Duke Johnson. "A public safety depart- ment out of control, alle- gations of sexual harass ment, a hostile work environment, a dangerous turnover rate," he said. Mr. Redmond went on to say there are employees who feared for their jobs as well as their lives. Also at issue are the town finances that are REDMOND Continued from page Al $700,000 short. "In order to provide the services for the village, we have to decide where we're cutting or how to raise the revenue," Mayor Noel said. "The budget process has already been handled by our staff. We always have a balanced budget. It's not current this year. When we're finished, we're going to have a bal- anced budget," he said. Village resident and regular Village meeting attendee Bob Bradner was at the meeting where he heard Mr. Redmond resign. He suggests that the Village - council applied political pres- sure. "You don't manage behind the manager's back," Mr. Bradner said. Ed Moore, another Vil- lage resident, who ran for Village Council back in March, concurs. "I think the council let a good man get away from them. You can't operate and not give peo- ple the ability to do the job," he said. "I think some of the issues including the police department and budget- ing issues will be exposed," Mr. Moore said. During the gap between the former manager and the arrival of Mr. Redmond, Doug Smith took on the role as Village Manager. He will reprise that role on an interim basis, Mayor Noel said. Mr. Redmond came to North Palm Beach by way of Kentucky where he began his career as a 22- year old city manager of Maysville, Kentucky pop- ulation 9,000. During his tenure there he had three times as many people working in it than living in it. Luring corporations such Mitsubishi, Inland Paperboard and Packag- ing, and Jockey Interna- tional, Inc., to set up shop. Redmond is a graduate of Kentucky's Morehead State University, where he majored in history and political science.